Hide Article Text (OCR)
his client, Patricia Kren-winkel;' and the other two girl . defendants — Susan Allans and' Leslie Van Houten — could not be guilty of first-degree murder because each had been labeled “mindless robots ... zombies ... vagabond automatons,” by the prosecution. V •. The former .deputy public defender up to this point had not spoken, out in defense . of -the • Mansoh ‘‘family” members ' on trial. All defense attorneys rested without putting on any witnesses.Fitzgerald claimed the prosecution's contention that the girls acted only on the orders of Manson — not thinking for themselves — would make them incap* able of deliberate, premeditated murder: a prerequisite for first - degree murder convictions.“The prosecution has told you these people arc mindless- robots,” Fitzgerald said as the jury listened attentively in Los Angeles Superior Court.• “IPS VERY clear,”' Fitzgerald said, ■ gesturing,• “.we’re not talking about first-degree murder. We're talking'about whether these defendants are 'guilty of second-degree murder and of conspiracy.”Then, 'turning to the count, of Conspiracy,, the young former public defender pointed out what he considered a drastie flaw in the prosecution:“Linda. Kasabiaa, the prosecution’s star witness, didn’t say she conspired with anyone to commit murder. She said 11 times oil the witness stand there was no conspiracy. She said she didn’t know where they were going and what they were going to do (on the nights of the Tate and La Bianca murders).Fitzgerald cited as discrepancies in the proseeu-. tion’s case:—The fact, that Steven Parent, one of the victims at the Tate home presumably left the caretaker’s cottage at 12:15 a:m. on Aug. 9, yet no one heard any screams until 12:45 or 1:30the house in 13 places, yet the prosecution claims they were killed inside the house..ers? That would explain a lot.”Then, quoting chief prosecutor Vincent Bugiiosi,presstonable blind girl. . . ' who had little experience;” “But,”' Fitzgerald pointed out, “she had two murder) car holding a gun and five knives.“She had no trouble sleeping after the murdersthree days.The prosecution rebuttal will last another three days, it is estimated.ACT NOW! DRASTIC REDUCTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR HUGE SHOWROOMS! NTil FFRRUARY TAKF 3 YEARS TO PAY! ALL GOODS PRICED TO MOVE BY
Newspaper Details
Independent
Long Beach, California, US
Tue, Dec 29, 1970
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
Zuleyka A.
CA, USA 27 Apr 2023
Other Publications Near Long Beach, California
Independent Long Beach
Independent Press Telegram
Press Telegram
Independent
Long Beach Press Telegram
